Beware! Group admins on WhatsApp or Facebook could be jailed for sharing fake news

If you are a group admin on WhatsApp or Facebook, you better be careful, because now it's officially a criminal offence to spread rumours on social media.

Offensive posts—such as rumours, fake news, morphed photographs and videos with fabricated narratives—circulated through WhatsApp or Facebook groups can land the group admin in jail, according to a joint order issued by the district magistrate of Varanasi and the city’s police chief.

Notably, in India alone, there are over 200 million WhatsApp users, while Facebook has 166 million users. So just imagine the numbers of fake news being shared online.

“There are several groups on social media which are named on newsgroups and also groups with other names which are propagating news and information which is not authentic. These are being forwarded without cross-checking,” the joint order stated.

Issued jointly by the District Magistrate and Senior Superintendent of Police, the order further states that if any statement made by a group member is found fake and or is a rumour that can cause religious disharmony, the group admin, must deny it and remove that particular member from the group.

“In the event of inaction from the group admin, he or she will be considered guilty, and action will be taken against the group admin,” the order stated.

If such a post is found, they must be reported to the nearest police station so that action can be taken against the member under the law, says the order. A case under cyber crime law, Information Technology Act and Indian Penal Code will be filed in the event of violation of these guidelines. The order also made it clear that orders of Supreme Court and various high courts will be considered while initiating action.

“While freedom of expression on social media is important, it also comes with responsibility,” the order said.

A Delhi High Court order in December last year, however, had ruled that admins cannot be held liable for content posted by any other member of the group.